| |
An accessible introduction to string theory, this book provides a detailed and self-contained demonstration of the main concepts involved. The first part deals with basic ideas, reviewing special relativity and electromagnetism while introducing the concept of extra dimensions. D-branes and the classical dynamics of relativistic strings are discussed next, and the quantization of open and closed bosonic strings in the light-cone gauge, along with a brief introduction to superstrings. The second part begins with a detailed study of D-branes followed by string thermodynamics. It discusses possible physical applications, and covers T-duality of open and closed strings, electromagnetic fields on D-branes, Born–Infeld electrodynamics, covariant string quantization and string interactions. Primarily aimed as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate courses, it will also be ideal for a wide range of scientists and mathematicians who are curious about string theory.
Contents
Part I. Basics: 1. A brief introduction
2. Special relativity and extra dimensions
3. Electromagnetism and gravitation
4. Non-relativistic strings
5. The relativistic point particle
6. Relativistic strings
7. String parameterization and motion
8. World-sheet currents
9. Light-cone relativistic strings
10. Light-cone fields and particles
11. Relativistic quantum particles
12. Quantum open strings
13. Quantum closed strings
Part II. Developments: 14. D-branes and gauge fields
15. String charge, electric charge, and particle physics
16. String thermodynamics and black holes
17. T-duality of closed strings
18. T-duality of open strings
19. Electromagnetic fields on D-branes
20. Nonlinear electrodynamics
21. Covariant string quantization
22. Interactions and Riemann surfaces
23. Loop amplitudes in string theory
References
Index.
ISBN - 9780521831437
|
| |
Pages : 578
|